Yes. Preston has an optional Weds and has had other, extra options on Saturdays where we aren't travelling / playing.
For free.
⚽️⚽️⚽️…Delusional Youth Soccer Parent Thread
- Thread starter lawpoke87
- Start date
Yes. Preston has an optional Weds and has had other, extra options on Saturdays where we aren't travelling / playing.
For free.
Other than the 2013s, will TSC GA teams have a realistic shot at the playoffs? Because if no one in Oklahoma playing at a high level is likely to make the playoffs (aside from maybe a rare OEFC team), then don’t we need a stronger community strategy?
If we start with the assumption that no one here is likely to qualify, then those “in the know” will probably avoid high-level local teams, go to Dallas, or join WSA just for bragging rights — to say they play for the “best club in Tulsa.” Even as a WSA family member and advocate, I think we can do better for all Tulsa clubs. But that requires us to think beyond any single club.
I realize I’m probably in the minority on this, but I still believe it’s possible, albeit unlikely, to build a better, more unified vision for youth soccer in Tulsa, at least on the girls’ side.
Side note: I was surprised by the idea that girls want to win more than boys. In my limited research, it seems boys tend to show a higher competitive drive. That lines up with what I’ve seen anecdotally too — but
.No other GA teams will make the playoffs. We aren’t a lock for the playoffs. Top 4 teams in our league are tough (all top 50). Only 2 teams from each conference automatically qualify.Other than the 2013s, will TSC GA teams have a realistic shot at the playoffs? Because if no one in Oklahoma playing at a high level is likely to make the playoffs (aside from maybe a rare OEFC team), then don’t we need a stronger community strategy?
If we start with the assumption that no one here is likely to qualify, then those “in the know” will probably avoid high-level local teams, go to Dallas, or join WSA just for bragging rights — to say they play for the “best club in Tulsa.” Even as a WSA family member and advocate, I think we can do better for all Tulsa clubs. But that requires us to think beyond any single club.
I realize I’m probably in the minority on this, but I still believe it’s possible, albeit unlikely, to build a better, more unified vision for youth soccer in Tulsa, at least on the girls’ side.
Side note: I was surprised by the idea that girls want to win more than boys. In my limited research, it seems boys tend to show a higher competitive drive. That lines up with what I’ve seen anecdotally too — but
Let not forget Blitz has some super teams coming up. Why should they be "forced" to either leave Tulsa or play for a different club?
Last edited:
When we left it was before TSC lost ECNL and it has never really been a desire to come back and play for WSA.
I think Blitz is an excellent option for families and I speak as someone who has been a member of the club.
My point, though, is that without a unified community strategy, we have no clear path to competitive success at the highest levels (e.g., GA/ECNL) in Tulsa. If we agree that reaching RL-level national championships is the goal, we already have clubs that have achieved that and proven it’s possible. Perhaps WSA can build on that foundation and create a nationally competitive set of NL teams, just as they did for RL. Still, I intuit that will be difficult, if not impossible, without a broader strategic framework in place.
We need parent education, cross-community partnerships, shared systems models, and braided funding shared throughout the market.
Essentially, the kind of collaborative ecosystem that I imagine could supercharge the community. But that begins with acknowledging the importance of this priority and fostering a culture of collective purpose. Right now, I’m convinced those prerequisites are missing.
Why do you think that of the algorithm? Are you saying that b/c you are predicting a weaker schedule?
Yes, The bottom half of our schedule doesn't have the depth.
Why do we have leagues anyway? Families pay to go to showcases and tournaments. Super Copa is the greatest youth soccer tournament going. You play qualifying games then get seeded. I would be a fan of Showcases that can seed teams and let like teams play like teams. Scouts would know where to go based on the player level they are recruiting. FCD shouldn't drive here to beat a team 6-0. Louisiana shouldn't drive here to lose 9-1. Stop wasting parents money on games that don't matter. The algorithm works pretty well outside right after tryouts. Match teams up and not clubs. Let players play for a coach. Let teams play good games. Let parents spend money wisely. If team want to have friendlies so be it. A coach develops a team and looses them after his/her 2 years is up with them?? How does that make sense?
Speaking of showcases and wasting money…any showcase prior to U15 is a complete waste of money. Colleges aren’t recruiting U14 and to be honest they’re barely recruiting U15.
Scheels is correct. The better the teams the more scouts. I’ve seen high level U16 games at showcases and nationals with 40-50 college scouts on the sidelines. All in their little white folding chairs.
When your girls hit U15-U16 they will make team sheets and take to every game. Has the players picture, position, height, grad year, gpa and social media information. Those are given to any college recruiter at the game.
Scheels is correct. The better the teams the more scouts. I’ve seen high level U16 games at showcases and nationals with 40-50 college scouts on the sidelines. All in their little white folding chairs.
When your girls hit U15-U16 they will make team sheets and take to every game. Has the players picture, position, height, grad year, gpa and social media information. Those are given to any college recruiter at the game.
Absolutely. But a lot of teams spend a ton of money playing league games that aren’t competitive. Traveling from Houston to Denver to lose by 7-8 goals.
Within 2 goals. Some games could be different for weird circumstances. But I would never say we played a competitive game and won or lost 4+ goals.
We're in the toughest conf in NL. We're still in 14th place. The majority of our games have been competitive.
Why do you think Ok teams can't compete in tx NL?
Challenge is 20th in the nation.
FCD is 36th.
Sting Austin is 21st
We have 100% taken beatings from THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN THE NATION. We will likely take a beating from Solar, too.
But stop acting like nobody in Tulsa can be competitive and that everyone belongs in GA.
For comparison:
I really don't give 2 $hits where your team plays. I care about the TSC 2013's and my daughter.
Actually, that’s exactly the kind of team we were on before. Last fall in league play, my daughter’s 13G team went 7-0-0 with 73 goals for and 1 against. It was an over-stacked travel rec squad that loved the game and wanted to stay together. By the end of the season, the team split, and it didn't take long for those girls to end up at each of the three top Tulsa clubs we discuss here. Each club ended up with two girls apiece for their top teams, and about three more went to your clubs second team.
Winning is fun. Dominating is fun. But at that point my daughter wasn't being stretched, and the games weren’t much fun for the teams we were playing against to say the least.
My wife and I talked with her about the “big fish, small pond” thing, and gave her the choice. She wanted a bigger pond.
So last spring we were grateful she received the invitation to join Joao's talented FC Tulsa ’13s. A steep learning curve, but under his coaching she grew quickly. Training with older, more advanced girls helped push her, and the schedule was tough. We knew it would be a grind. She struggled, like every kid does, but she leaned into it.
Our mantra was simple: challenge brings discomfort, discomfort builds grit, and building grit leads to growth.
She thrived in the environment. As the older girls hit big growth spurts, we decided to go on-age at WSA, which has that same gritty attitude, coaches who care about development, and players who love the demand.
My goal for her to understand is that working hard is a big part of trying to achieve something difficult. And in the scenarios where she isn’t successful, that’s part of it too. Sometimes you try to do everything right and life still sucks.
When I look at it this way, the best-case scenario is that we continue the developmental path we are on, surrounded by a group of girls and families who bring great energy and shared purpose, and that it all adds up to a team that’s competitive in Texas NL next year.
But, honestly, "the worst case scenario" still sounds pretty great. My daughter gains amazing friends, strong coaching, and the chance to play some of the best competition at our level... all while I get the honor of being present beside her while she builds the kind of core memories she’ll carry for life.
Sounds like either way it’s going to be a great year for us!
It doesn't make sense sadly because it isn't mean to make sense. This is what happens when free-market capitalism meets youth development without counterweights like public investment, regulation, or shared infrastructure.
We get redundancy, uneven competition, and inflated costs that parents and clubs will continue to buy into, because access and prestige feel scarce. Fragmentation + exclusivity + status signaling = revenue.
a quick search shows private equity is doing roll ups in youth sports. Best case scenario we get better fields, facilities, tech, platforms, etc. long term. Pessimistic take is that our kids will grow up in a world that has an even larger divide when it comes to access to higher level youth sports and this will be based largely on ability to pay.